The first new prescription diet drug in 13 years won Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on Wednesday, offering a new alternative to aid weight loss for the nearly one in three Americans who are considered obese. The new drug, called Belviq (lorcaserin), is made by Arena Pharmaceuticals. Here’s what you need to know:

How does Belviq work?
The drug works by controlling appetite — specifically by activating brain receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that triggers feelings of satiety and satisfaction. Serotonin is also involved in mood; many antidepressant drugs work by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and keeping brain receptors bathed in the chemical. Researchers at Arena say their drug is designed to seek out only the serotonin receptors that affect appetite.

How effective is it?
According to clinical trial data submitted by Arena to the FDA, nearly half of dieters without Type 2 diabetes who used the medication lost at least 5% of their starting weight — or an average of 12 lbs. — over a year, compared with 23% of those taking a placebo. For best results, dieters are advised to use the medication together with a healthy diet and exercise program. The approved labeling for Belviq also recommends that people discontinue the drug if they fail to lose 5% of their body weight after 12 weeks; longer treatment is unlikely to lead to meaningful weight loss.

Who can take Belviq?
The FDA approved the medication for people who are obese (with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher) or who are overweight (with a BMI of 27 or above) and also have at least one weight-related health condition such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Are there any side effects?
The most common side effects of Belviq in non-diabetic patients are headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth and constipation; in patients with diabetes, side effects include low blood sugar, headache, back pain, cough and fatigue.

There was also some concern that Belviq caused tumors in animals and heart-valve defects in people. A similar serotonin-based drug that had been approved for weight loss — fenfluramine — was removed from the market in 1997 because of the same heart concerns.

In 2010, the FDA rejected Arena’s first request for approval, asking for more evidence of its safety. New data provided by the company showed that heart problems would not occur at the low doses at which Belviq would be prescribed. The FDA won’t require patients taking Belviq to be monitored for heart-valve damage, but the company is required to conduct six studies once the drug reaches the market to determine whether it causes heart attacks or stroke in people who take it.

Why did it take so long to get a new weight-loss drug approved?
The history of diet pills has been plagued by safety problems. Since 1999, when the last prescription weight-loss medication, Xenical (orlistat), was given the green light, one weight loss drug, Meridia (sibutramine) was taken off the market when users began showing increased risk of heart problems, and two others, Belviq and Qnexa, were rejected by the FDA over safety concerns. Manipulating the body’s weight-controlling pathways can have long-term consequences on the heart and other metabolic systems, so drug developers have a high bar to clear to prove their compounds are safe.

I've been on it for 15 days and have lost zero weight. In fact it made me crave food not suppress my appetite at all. I actually gained a pound while on it. I've been tired and lack any energy. Have had horrible headaches for two weeks. I finally quit taking it when I had shortness of breath. My opinion is to learn to love yourself, no matter what your size. Cut down and eventually out the foods that are not good for you. Stay away from diet soda, that crap is bad for you anyway. Drink tea or water and cut out soda, I did that and lost 6 lbs the first week. I know this kind of approach won't work for everyone. But these pills are so not worth it. Blessings.

I think I would wait a few years and see if this stuff does not show up as causing heart disease. Unless you were like one of my old patients. He had a heart murmur, noted on his chart, when he began phen-fen. Thing is, he got his heart valve fixed on the drug maker's dime, even though the disease was present before he took the pills! They figured it was cheaper paying for the surgery, than paying the lawyers, and for the valve surgery!

You most likely consider getting a good nights sleep and also taking steps to present your metabolism a lift two different health goals—but a recently available study says they will often not always must be tackled separately. The analysis, published within the journal Diabetes, found that by curbing the temperature on the room people sleep in through the night, you could possibly increase your degrees of brown excess fat (often known as "good excess fat, " that burns calories to create heat)—and that will in flip increase your current metabolism and also improve entire health.

The average eating place meal contains over twice the number of calories you ought to be consuming in a single sitting, according to a new 2013 study and that is not even considering the lower calorie count you will require your lunch to be able to clock in at for anyone who is trying to drop pounds. But inside a. m. dash, who has time to make lunch? May well avoid from a midday diet-wrecker by simply prepping your meal the night before. (We love make-ahead mason jar salads in particular. )

I have to question the efficacy of a weight loss drug that requires you to use diet and exercise. Why not just skip the drug (that probably doesn't work in the first place) and just do the diet and exercise?

@mandraquex3000 It's just 2 year later, the new drug, called Belviq was approved by FDA. It was having some side effects. Now on Wednesday FDA approved another Drug-"Contrave". It too have some warning like suicidal tendency, etc. Still it will soon available in the market. I read this news from many news site saying about Contrave. You can find reviews for other weight loss supplements here. http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/weight-loss-reviews/

It does work, I lost 10 pounds during the 15-day free trial without even trying much. But it is really expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it like mines doesn't. It's $153 for a 30-day supply and that's including the $75 off with the savings card so the regular price is like $223. You can ask your doctor for the free trial but make sure you activate it before picking it up from the pharmacy or they will try to charge you $115 like they did me so I had to activate the free trial while I was at the pharmacy then it was free. The savings card is extended another year although it says it has already expired, so get your pharmacy to call Belviq if they are not informed of it.

question.... I started taking Belviq for a few days now and I am so tired... I use to take Zantrex 3 and it helped wake me up in the morning (kinda like my morning coffiee) does anyone know if i can take both?

I have just finished the 15-Day Trial of Belviq. I have already lost 13 lbs. No side effects to speak of. Today, I am filling the month supply prescription that follows. I'm not sure if I will refill again because the savings card expires on the 31st. But for now, I couldn't be happier.

@Kbbaby Eisai is extending the savings card for another YEAR, expiring 3/31/2015. By then there should be many more insurers who will pay for it and Congress is considering legislation that would help this along.

I just started using it today and I've stayed so sick on my stomach. I've always had trouble eating due to being raised and taught to not eat in order to lose weight, but it never showed because I have a syndrome that makes it nearly impossible to lose weight. I think I ate about 300 calories worth of food today and it took all my strength to keep it down.